Feast of Saint Jerome Emiliani
The solemnity of the saint of Somasca, between devotion, history, and culture
About Feast of Saint Jerome
The Saint of Somasca
The Feast of Saint Jerome Emiliani is the grand solemnity that every February 8th brings the faithful to Somasca, a hamlet in the municipality of Vercurago, province of Lecco. Here, at the Sanctuary Basilica, Saint Jerome Emiliani is venerated, a Venetian nobleman from the 16th century who dedicated his life to orphans and the poor, founding the Order of Clerics Regular of Somasca and dying in Somasca in 1537.
Liturgy and Procession of the Urn
The heart of the feast is liturgical: during the solemnity days, numerous masses are held, culminating in the solemn concelebration in the basilica, accompanied by the transport and placement of the saint's urn. Devotion is linked to the Saint Jerome sites of Somasca, from the Valletta to the Rocca dell'Innominato made famous by Manzoni, in a territory rich in history and spirituality.
Art, Culture, and Solidarity
Alongside the religious celebrations, the feast offers a rich cultural program: exhibitions by local artists in the venues on Via Fredda and in the cloister of the Ursuline Sisters, displays by photographers, ceramists, painters, and wood artists, a market, and a charity raffle for the sanctuary's restoration. An event of identity for Vercurago and for the entire Larian Lombardy region.
Feast of Saint Jerome — edition 2026
The solemnity of Saint Jerome Emiliani 2026 focuses on February 8th, with an intense day of celebrations in the Sanctuary Basilica of Somasca. Cultural initiatives — exhibitions by local artists, a market, and a charity raffle for restoration efforts — accompany the feast days and continue into the following weekend.
Programme Feast of Saint Jerome 2026
Sunday, February 8th — Solemnity of Saint Jerome Emiliani
- 7:00 AM — Holy Mass presided over by Father Walter Persico, provincial of the Somascan Fathers in Italy
- 8:30 AM — Holy Mass presided over by Don Andrea Pirletti, parish priest of Vercurago
- 10:30 AM — Solemn concelebration presided over by the Bishop of Alba, Monsignor Marco Brunetti
- 2:30 PM — Singing of second vespers
- 5:00 PM — Solemn Holy Mass presided over by Monsignor Bortolo Uberti, provost of Lecco
Cultural Initiatives
- Exhibitions by local artists (photographers, wood artists, ceramists, painters) in the venues on Via Fredda
- Second-hand market
- Charity raffle for the sanctuary's restoration, in the venues on Via della Basilica
- Magic show for children in the oratory (following weekend)
Highlights Feast of Saint Jerome 2026
Prices Feast of Saint Jerome 2026
Practical information — Feast of Saint Jerome
When
Around February 8th, the anniversary of Saint Jerome Emiliani.
Where
Sanctuary Basilica of Saint Jerome, Somasca di Vercurago (LC), province of Lecco.
Info
Sanctuary of Saint Jerome: tel. +39 0341 420272 — santuariosangirolamo.org.
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Where does it take place — Feast of Saint Jerome
Basilica del Santuario di San Girolamo Emiliani, Somasca